Hi everybody and a happy new year to you all . I’m nearly 5 months post 2nd ablation and so far so good with just a few ectopics to put up with .
I seem to have contracted a respiratory infection and wondered what medication is suitable for my symptoms bearing in mind I take anticoagulants. Paracetamol is pretty useless for the sinus pain and steam baths aren’t helping clear my constantly banging head especially on waking . It’s now gone on for over 2 weeks with no improvement and I know that Ibuprofen would be more effective for pain as possibly Sudafed would in relieving the congestion.
From what I’ve read both those drugs are not advised for those with AF but as I’m not experiencing episodes now could I try it on a short term basis possibly ?. I also understand Ibuprofen could increase the risk of bleeds if taken with Edoxaban so I’m cautious about that .
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Hammerboy
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Neither Ibuprofen or Sudafed should be taken as both are known to promote AF. You are left with the option of good old paracetamol and steam inhalations I'm afraid
.Speak to your GP if it persists in case you need antibiotics but it may be a case of seeing it through with plenty of rest.
I had blocked sinuses after Covid and tried a nose spray which was recommended by the pharmacist - Otrivine. It does have a caution for arrhythmia but is better than an ingested medication. It worked like magic! Re paracetamol, I have had to have a lot of advice re pain management this year and been told that to be effective you have to take it regularly so it builds up in the system. Taking two paracetamol regularly makes me quite ill after a week maybe because I am small and female and I suspect that advice was only tested on men! but apparently a lot of people don’t know that’s how it works.
I do not get on well with Paracetamol either. Or any painkillers! Paracetamol is actually a very bad thing to take if you have an infection as it reduces the body's production of glutathione which is one of the body's most important antioxydants. The reduction in temperature is not a good idea either as raised temperature is the body's first line mechanism for killing bugs. N acetyl cysteine is given iv in paracetamol overdose - it is a precursor to glutathione. Advising people to take something that is bad for the liver on a regular basis seems odd to me. Most drugs that have been around for a long time have only been tested on men - leading to women getting more side effects probably because we are being overdosed on the one size fits all prescribing that is the norm.
I agree completely. Not only that but some drugs act differently on xx than on XY cells. I always think it odd that dosages for children can go by weight but the same dose is given for a 7st woman as for a 20st one man.
I've had a respiratory virus for nearly 3 weeks. Our GP determined that it wasn't C***d and that as a virus antibiotics weren't necessary, but told me to return if any signs of breathing difficulties emerged, obviously a risk that it could develop into bronchitis or pneumonia. Headache from blocked sinuses was a feature. I felt rough and generally weak, but temperature was more or less normal. I took Panadol (paracetamol) when the headaches were bad and tried inhalations but I'm not sure if they really helped.Only now am I starting to get a bit stronger every day and getting out for a walk with the dog. Although it isn't that bad, it has been a long time since I've had something that's knocked me out for this long.
Here this sort of respiratory virus has been more serious for very young children.
Hope you soon start to feel stronger, but watch out for any sign of breathing problems.
Many thanks , I don’t believe mine is viral as I’m producing discoloured mucus constantly when coughing which suggests it’s bacterial . I too tested negative for Covid but this is the worst I’ve ever felt and for longer than ever before .
So far my breathing is not that badly affected but I am aware that it can worsen so I may have to ask my GP to prescribe antibiotics
The only way I have of reliably relieving sinus infection and build up of mucus is using a good old fashioned sinus rinse solution which someone on this forum suggested to me a few years ago - I use a squeeze bottle but something like a netti-pot works well. Just ensure you use the appropriate saline salt with sterile water - plain water from the tap will burn and cause more issues.
I use Olbas oil. Put a few drops on a hanky and sniff it or breath it in through the mouth or put some drops in hot water to inhale it It is made up of natural oils so should be fine for you to use. I'm also 5 months post ablation and have been using it for a chest cold with no negative effects on the old ticker. If your chemist doesn't have it you can get it on Amazon.
Whatever the respiratory virus / bacteria is this year it’s certainly much worse and harder to shift than any I’ve had for many years. I have PAF and also asthma and since mid December have had, in addition to doubling up all my inhaler doses, a course of steroid tablets and am on 2nd lot of antibiotics. Coughing till I’m almost sick and alternate between being able to breathe ok and a head so full of mucous that it’s unreal. Exhausted, fed up and just want it to stop! Started antibiotics yesterday, amoxicillin this time after doxycycline before Xmas. Hate taking them but my temperature has been raised for 4 days now and the phlegm has shifted from mainly in my head to mainly on my chest. Am taking paracetemol if the headache gets bad with all the coughing fits. I’m using Olbas oil , vaporub and hot showers to try to break up the mucous as well as drinking lots of water and tea! Completely devoid of energy …I get ill with respiratory bugs most winters but this winter is definitely a really bad one. It hasn’t really affected my PAF …I am getting a fast heart rate on and off but that’s down to the reliever drug in the inhalers and a raised temperature I think, having a direct effect on the heart rate. Hope that everyone affected feels better soon.
I feel for you , this is the worst I’ve felt and the fact it’s lingering so long is concerning . The strangest thing is my wife and daughter are both fine , my family who visited over Christmas including my 92 mother are all well after spending time with us . I wonder if ,after the ablation in August , my resistance was lower and more susceptible to picking up the bug . In every other way I’ve been quite well and recovering nicely .
no rhyme or reason to it is there? But I really hope that this current respiratory thing clears up for you soon and that the benefits of your recent ablation continue to build. Onward and upward as they say!
Try NAC n acetyl cysteine for the mucous. This was recommended by our chemist the last time I had a cough. It worked really well. Here in France you can buy it in sachets you mix with water . It makes mucous more fluid . It also supports the immune sysyem. If chemists where you live do not have it you can buy it online in capsules as a food supplement - Amazon or ebay. They might have it in Holland and Barret.
im sorry that your husband is also I’ll with this …hope he’s better soon. I’ll check out your suggestion although due to being on an anticoagulant I’m somewhat restricted as to mixing things up! Grapefruit anything is not advisable but I can check out elderberry extract…thank you
You have my sympathies as both my wife and I suffer with catarrhal and congested sinus problems. You might have developed a secondary bacterial sinus infection with its having gone on for this long. in which case a visit to the doctor's is needed. You might be prescribed an antihistamine along with or in place of an antibiotic as these sometimes can reduce the mucus secretion along, perhaps, with a steroid nasal spray to reduce inflammation.
If you can't get to see a GP, then seeing pharmacist is now a second option.
sorry to hear you’ve also got this nasty respiratory bug. It’s certainly an unpleasant one. I’m on my last day of doxycycline and steroids for it today, it has improved but not gone by any means. Try vic on your feet at bedtime with socks over the top. I’ve also tried olbus oil on a hanky to sniff. My heart rate increased at the beginning and I was forced to increase my bisoprolol for a few days. Paracetamol have kept the temperature under control and managed the headache. I waited 10 days to go to the gp which in hindsight wasn’t the cleverest thing, as by then the infection on my chest had really got a good hold. So if no improvement off to the gp for you.
The NHS seems to prescribe Doxycycline as a first line anti biotic if you are allergic to Penicillin. I no longer live in the UK , but since I married a South African resident, live there. When visiting my sister in England just before lockdown, I contracted a chest infection (I'm asthmatic and penicillin allergic) My sister arranged for me to go to her local surgery where I saw the nurse who prescribed Doxycycline and an inhaler (Ventolin), even though I had told her I had AF. My cardiologist had removed all chest meds with the exception of Symbicort as they are bad for the heart - fortunately my Asthma is mild, if necessary I can use extra puffs of Symbicort. I did not use the inhaler. Anyhow when I got home, my chest was still bothering me, so I saw my own GP. I might add, that i had only ever had Doxycycline prescribed by the Vet, for my dogs with tick bite fever. My doctor, was also surprised, as she said she usually only prescribed it for acne, and immediately gave me a prescription for Cephalosporin and nebulising solutions. I was better in a week. I had asked the NHS nurse to prescribe nebulising solutions - I said I could buy a machine as they are cheap, but it appears you can only be nebulized in hospital! So I would suggest that if you are not getting better to ask for a prescription for an anti-biotic in the cephalosporin family.!
I am infectious disease specialist here in usa,doxycycline is much better drug for bronchitis than any of the cephalosporins,but the fact is that 90% of cases of bronchitis are viral etiology and get better on their own no matter what atb you are prescribed,so you likely improved on your own not cephalosporin
See your GP. I had similar and it’s now six weeks. My asthma went way out of control, three courses of steroids, two different antibiotics in case it was bacterial. Now on carbosisteine to help clear my lungs. A way to go yet though.
With regards your sinuses, I’m using a Sterimar saline spray. It helps flush them out and has helped with the breathing and head to some degree. Otherwise I’m afraid it’s paracetamol four times a day.
"Real" Sudafed (that containing pseudoephedrine as opposed to phenlyephrine) is a definite no-no. Even before my afib started, it would make my heart do tricks! A shame as it's a really good decongestant.
My cardiologist, upon questioning, advised that if you've not had any previous problems with bleeding from ibuprofen, occasional use is OK, no issue with the anticoagulant.
You may want to try Mucinex (guaifenesin), an otc mucolytic, to break up and liquify your head congestion. I swear by it, and I've had sinus issues for decades.
When I had a particularly bad allergy problem in autumn (extreme stuffy head, post-nasal drip contributing to chest congestion, etc.) I was given Azelastine, a non-steroid nasal spray, which seemed to stop the problem in its tracks. A couple other items -- Hall's menthol cough drops that helped, and Vick's nasal inhaler (not a spray). I don't know if these are available in the UK.
hi hammerboy hope your on the mend. It’s a nasty little bug that’s doing the rounds. Nearly everyone at my work has had it/ got it.! Iv had it myself and it took three weeks to get shut.!!! My chest was on fire for a week and the only thing I didn’t Cough up was a bag of spanner’s.
I was wary of taking certain things just in case it set afib off so I stuck to paracetamol. Lemon water, and home made electrolyte drinks.
Looking back I should have gone to GP. He may have put me on antibiotics and Iv have been better quicker.?? It may be a good idea to try get to see your GP.?
Thanks Ron , I’m going to try the GP tomorrow, sods law these things happen over holiday periods . I know so many people who have it , I’ve had all my Covid jabs and my yearly flu jab in November , this bug must be a rogue ☹️
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Ablation Number 3 on Thursday
Hello from a fairly Newbe, Ablation been and gone,
Blood Thinners (Just kidding BobD) - Anticoagulants and Pain Management
Is it safe to stop anti coag. 
Conflicting advice
